The Hawks want to keep Carroll, but his price has been driven up. With his defense and versatility, one league exec estimated his next deal at more than $15 million per year. The Lakers, a source said, have big-time interest.

This is a good reminder, moreover a PSA, to all Celtics fans: They have money and they will spend it, which means they will be in on every big-to-semi-big free agent.

This, however, is no big-to-semi-big free agent.

DeMarre Carroll, to his credit, is a solid role player. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season and is a stellar defender. We saw as much last night against LeBron James in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Whatever the case, what more value does he add over, restricted free agent, Jae Crowder who the Celtics could sign to a much cheaper deal than the one that Carroll's agent is reportedly expecting come the offseason?